Just as extra caution is due when driving in winter

This car door was opened in traffic near McHenry. The costs of repairs were substantial.

You’re in a hurry. You pull up in front of a McHenry store planning to run after you parallel park. In your rush, however, you don’t watch oncoming traffic closely enough. You open the door and ‘BAM!’ – a driver passing by smacks your car door.

Hopefully, they didn’t catch your hand in the process. If so, serious injury is quite possible – even probable. But even if you’re fortunate enough to avoid bodily injury, the level of damage that is possible to your car may surprise you.

Behind the area where the car door is mounted, assuming we’re talking about the driver’s door, is the hinge pillar. When an open car door is smacked by a passing vehicle, the door may be twisted past the hinge stops. But the damage is liable to go deeper than that.

The hinge pillar is an integral part of the vehicle’s body. You might say it’s equivalent to an important bone in the car’s skeletal structure. But there’s more than that.

The fender in front of the door is likely to receive significant damage as, of course, will the door. Depending on how violently the door is hit, the frame around the door may suffer. The floor of the car can be damaged, as can the glass inside the door. The hood may be damaged. 

What it comes down to is that opening your door into traffic comes with some serious risks. Such is the case with any automotive accident.

When a car hits a tree, the tree may suffer some damage but, if the tree is substantial enough, the car is liable to come off worse for the experience, not to mention those inside the car. Guard rails, telephone poles, homes and other structures can wreak havoc on your vehicle. 

When the impact occurs on other parts of the vehicle, the migration of damage is still a potential issue. 

During a McHenry winter, the roads are slick. The days are shorter and the roads are darker. These factors combine to create conditions where accidents are more likely. The solution when driving is to apply greater caution. Just like looking carefully at oncoming traffic before opening the door, you want to be aware and focused on your driving.

That’s good advice anytime of the year. But, with a McHenry winter, it’s more critical than ever. This is also true of performing proper auto maintenance in the winter. You need good tires that get traction. You need good brakes to stop when you have to. You need lights so you can see and other lights so others can see you and know what you’re planning to do.

You need a clear windshield and windows. And you need a steering system that is tight and responsive. 

Driving in a McHenry winter requires attention to detail that starts before you start the car.